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Sunday, 18 January 2015

Bandcamp Album Of The Week: Ketamine - 25.807² (Album Review).

Album
Type:
Album

Date
Released:
31st
Dec 2014

Label:
Self
Released

25.807²
– Track Listing

1.Chameleon-Food
Chain-Golden Boy 14:41

2.Hurricane Head
09:30

3.Instrumental 03:03

4.Quitter 05:04

5.Untitled-Halfass
11:39

Bio

Ketamine features
members of Ludicra, Augurs, Sangre Amado, Sad Sack, Traitors Return
to Earth among others and was recorded by legendary Fillmore SF sound
man Nathan Harlow and remixed and mastered by FOH Newpot Columbus
Brian Simakis. It gives a glimpse of what we were doing in 1996 in
San Francisco, when nobody wanted to sound like anybody and the
audiences craved diversity. This was the fertile ground that allowed
for Ketamine to share the stage with the likes of Acid King, Abcess,
Noothgrush, Spilth, Dystopia and may other amazing bands.

I think the lyrics
and vocal delivery by Oliver Lodge is simply amazing. His influences
were bands like The Swans, the stooges, G.G. Allen, Daniel Johnston
and a slew of the most tortured souls you can imagine along with an
obscure collection of cassette tapes and 7" singles. Talent
beyond belief. Some of the lyrics were written by Blaise Beinvenue,
his former Sad Sack bandmate.

Members

Kevin Masters-
guitars

Claude Kraemer –
drums

Jesika Christ -
bass, samples

Oliver Lodge -
vocals

past:

Blaise Blenvenue -
vocals

Joe Dusty Malanaik -
Guitars

Review:

Our
good friend – Kevin Masters – from one of my fave Doom/Sludge
Metal bands – Traitors Return To Earth – asked me to check out
his former band – Ketamine. If you reed his excellent bio on the
band it will tell you what to expect. Ketamine play an unflinching
and unforgiving blend of Sludge and Doom Metal.

It'
s hard to believe that 25.807² or 666 as Kevin has told me the album is called, was actually recorded in 1996 as it
sounds fresh and exciting 19 years later. The album is immense from
start to finish. Wait until you experience the 14 minute epic opening
track - Chameleon-Food Chain-Golden Boy - as Ketamine
outline their dangerous intent from the start. The vocals have a
dangerous quality to them as Oliver sings about some pretty
disturbing topics.

With
the band being from San Francisco you can detect the violent decaying
sounds of Noise Rock that still plays a major part within the San
Francisco music scene to this present day. Ketamine may not be to
everyone's taste but if you want to hear what San Francisco sounded
like back in 1996 then this album feels like a buried time capsule
being discovered by today's musical audience. It's a filthy ridden
blast of intense vocals and rhythms that will hopefully find a new
fan-base amongst today's Sludge/Doom Metal crowd.

Tracks
such as Hurricane Head and Untitled-Halfass are the main standout
tracks as Ketamine seriously didn't give a fuck what people thought
about them back in the day. It's a shame this album was never
released as Ketamine could have been serious players amongst the
Sludge Metal/Noise Rock scene back in the day. Though the members
have gone onto form other great bands, it's great to see where their
musical journey evolved from.

My
final thoughts on 25.807² is that the album is a downright unpleasant
and noisy experience you all should witness. It's still as exciting
as fresh today as it was recorded back in 1996. Don't pass this album
by. It's a blast from start to finish and why it's my choice for
Sludgelord BandCamp Album Of The Week.

Band Submissions

To those bands who have recently issued their first demo or album via bandcamp and would like to be featured on our 666 Pack Review or considered for a full review or stream please contact Aaron via email including your EPK, band bio, album file or download code, including artwork.

To those bands issuing their sophomore record and so on and would like to be considered for a review or stream on the blog. Get in touch using the same address above

We will consider bands from any genre but exclusively stoner, sludge, doom, psych, post-metal, experimental, black-metal etc. (Whilst I would like to respond to every email, this is not always possible.) Thanks